Saint-Aubin, Burgundy
The Wine
'Clin d’Oeil' (The Wink) is a playful and highly expressive aromatic wine that captures the inventive spirit of Julien Altaber. In the 2022 vintage, this cuvée is a strategic blend of Viognier and Gamay. The Viognier grapes are sourced from 20-year-old vines grown on south-facing granite slopes in the north of Beaujolais.
The Viognier was macerated as whole bunches for 10 days in conical wooden vats, while the Gamay was directly pressed and blended in to add freshness and a bright, "electric" fruit profile. The result is a luminous orange-hued wine with a creamy texture, featuring heady aromas of quince, peach, and citrus peel grounded by a distinct saline minerality.
The Producer
Julien Altaber is a protégé of the late Dominique Derain and a central figure in the natural wine scene of Saint-Aubin. Under his Sextant label, Julien focuses on producing wines of extreme purity and energy. He farms using organic and biodynamic principles, believing that minimal intervention in the cellar is the only way to "let the grapes do the talking".
